If you listen carefully today, you can hear thousands of
people around the country quietly cursing.
"And why are these people cursing?," you ask.
Well, that's because these folks are just now realizing it's February 13th.
Which means that tomorrow is Valentine's
Day. That day when you're supposed to prove to your significant other that you genuinely
care about them by tossing a thoughtful gift their way. Which can be somewhat
difficult if you haven't actually gotten around to doing your Valentine's Day shopping
yet.
Not to worry, though. JHM is here to help. Given the folks
who frequent this website, I'm going to assume that your significant other is a
Disneyana enthusiast. So let me throw a few quick suggestions out there.
Copyright 2012 Theme Park Press. All rights reserved
If the person that you love is a fan of old films, then
Disney historian Jim Korkis' "Who's Afraid of the Song of the South and
Other Forbidden Disney Stories
" (Theme Park Press, December 2012) could be
a very thoughtful gift. Jim spends more than a third of this 276-page paperback
discussing the history of this now-seldom-seen 1946 Walt Disney Productions
release. And if you're familiar with Korkis' weekly column over at MousePlanet
… Well, then you already know that Jim has a gifted storyteller who really
knows the ins & outs when it comes to Disney Company history.
On the other hand, Jeff Heimbuch may not a name that you're all
that familiar with. But trust me, folks, you will be. Given the terrific job that
Jeff just did with shaping & molding Rolly Crump's memoir, "It's Kind
of a Cute Story
" (Bamboo Forest Publishing, November 2012), it's clear
that Heimbuch's a guy to watch. Especially if you're interested in learning
more about Disney theme park history. So if your Valentine is more of a park person,
then presenting them with a copy of this handsome 192-page paperback would be a very
smart & thoughtful thing to do.
Copyright Bamboo Forest Publishing
All rights reserved
Now if the person that you most care about is more
interested in actually working for the Mouse someday as — say — an animator, then
you really can't miss by gifting them a copy of "Walt Disney Animation
Studios The Archive Series: Walt Disney's Nine Old Men: The Flipbooks
" (Disney
Editions, January 2013). You see, inside of this 6 inch-tall box are scenes
that Pixar pioneer Pete Doctor personally selected which then showcase the
artistry of such animation masters as Marc Davis, Eric Larson, Milt Kahl and
Woolie Reitherman. And you flip back and forth between these drawings … Well,
it's almost like you're holding an animation master class right there in your
hands. The things that you'll learn about the role that proper staging, strong
poses and timing play in great character animation should prove to be
invaluable.
Copyright 2013 Disney Editions. All rights reserved
What's that you say? The person who holds your heart is more
of a TV fan? They love just those sort of intricately plotted programs which
have lots of mythology and backstory.
Which is why your significant other has been feeling kind of lost since
"Lost
" went off the air in May of 2010.
Well, if that's really the case, then order in some Chinese food
tomorrow evening and make sure you're sitting in front of a television starting
at 8 p.m. ET / PT. Because that's when "Zero Hero" begins its
thirteen week run on ABC.
Copyright American Broadcasting Companies, Inc.
All rights reserved
Now I don't want to give too much away about this ABC
Studios production. Because — to be blunt — half the fun of "Zero
Hour" is its many secrets and the way that they unfold. But just the sheer
size & sweep of this TV show impresses. Which just in the pilot episode
takes you from Germany in 1938 to modern day Manhattan, where a robbery at an
antique clock shop eventually leads us to the Canadian tundra. Which is where the
publisher of Modern Skeptic magazine, Hank Galliston (Anthony Edwards) is
shocked to discover …
Nope. Not gonna do it. If you want to learn about Hank
actually finds hidden there under the ice, then you & the one you love really
need to get in on the ground floor when it comes to "Zero Hour."
Which manages to combine the globe-trotting / puzzle-solving fun of Disney's
"National Treasure
" movies with those religious mystery & conspiracy
theory-laden tales that Dan Brown has told in his best-selling books, "The
Da Vinci Code" and "The Lost Symbol
."
Copyright American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. All rights reserved
Anyway … There are four suggestions for possible
Valentine's Day gifts for the film fans, theme park enthusiasts, would-be
animators and mystery lovers on your shopping list. My apologies for today's
column being so short. But given that I forgot to pick something for Nancy
earlier this week, I really need to head out to the store.
Your thoughts?